Cub Scout Whittling Chip Requirements

Earning the Cub Scout Whittling Chip is a rite of passage for Bear Scouts as they learn pocketknife safety! See all the Whittling Chip requirements here.

If you’ve looked for the Cub Scout Whittling Chip requirements in the Bear handbook or leader’s guide, you know they aren’t there! That’s frustrating since our Bear Cub Scouts have to earn the Whittling Chip for the Bear Claws required adventure.

The Arrows of Light who haven’t earned it yet must do so for their required Scouting Adventure. Their handbook does have a list of requirements, but there are discrepancies between it and other sources.

I’ve given this feedback to the Boy Scouts of America, so hopefully, we’ll see changes in future editions of the handbooks.

One of the Cub Scout Whittling Chip requirements rules is to make a safety circle before you begin using your knife. But I’ve always heard it called something else–the blood circle! I’m sure some people wouldn’t use that term with the boys, but I think it helps them remember to be aware of their surroundings.

Important note: Please, please make sure the boys know that they are to NEVER take their pocketknife to school. They shouldn’t even put it in their school backpack. So many schools have a zero tolerance policy for items that can be considered weapons, and I would hate for a Cub Scout to be suspended from school (or worse) for taking his pocketknife.

How to Care for Your Pocketknife

One of the primary tasks the boys will need to do to care for their pocketknives is to sharpen them. Scouting Magazine has a good article sharing tips on how to teach this skill to Scouts.

How to Use Your Pocketknife

I really like the changes that were made to the Bear Claws requirements when the Cub Scout program was modified in late 2016. Now, Cub Scouts need to demonstrate that they know how to use a pocketknife for various tasks like cutting rope, opening a sealed box and using the can opener tool to open a can.

This site has some other pocketknife skills to practice. Scroll about half way down the page to the “Basic Skills to Master” section. They suggest things like using your pocketknife to sharpen a pencil.

When my sons earned their Whittling Chip, we gave them their first pocketknife. My husband and I felt like they were mature enough to use them safely–especially after the Whittling Chip training. Only you as a parent can decide if your son is ready for one. If he is, take a look at these that are available through my affiliate link.

Has your den completed the Whittling Chip requirements? I would love to hear about your experience in the comments!

Get the Wood Carving merit badge book, 2004 or later to show the boys how to use the knife to carve easily. I use a stick about 1/2″ dia. to carve different patterns on it. I have the boys assemble sharping sticks with 3/4″ craft sticks, double stick tape and 400 wet/dry abrasive paper. I have them also make Whammy Diddles. It takes practice to cut the notches.

Nicely said. The BSA has both wisely and frustratingly not tried to be exact in the “requirements” both for Whittlin’ Chip and the Totin’ Chip. The realization is that technique is better taught “locally” and personally. Good tool usage is an apprentice thing. When I teach Wood Tools at IOLS, I go from WC (Boy Scouts can teach Cubs) to TC for the adult leaders to realize the connection and gradation of pocketknife to crosscut saw and axe. Try and find the book “SUPERPOWER” by David Weitzman and or “Reverence for Wood” by Eric Sloane, which both deal with personal craftsmanship and tool use. Lost concerns in this virtual and e-driven society. For your perusal, my WC Curriculum: https://www.dropbox.com/s/gtu8g107a5e4t1v/ScoutWhitlinChip2.docx?dl=0 See you on the trail……

I was at a Universe of Scouting and someone mentioned making plastic knives from PVC pipe, sounded better than using the plastic picnic knife. any one do this? Also, what is up with use a can opener to open a can, cub scout knives don’t have a can opener